There are many inferences readers can make from the Epic of Gilgamesh about Mesopotamian cities, politics, and religion. Gilgamesh’s personality, background, journey, and beliefs can relate to each of these aspects of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian politics can be learned through Gilgamesh and the way he controls Uruk and the people of Uruk. The religion of the Mesopotamian people can directly relate to the people of Uruk and the Gods and Goddesses in this epic poem. Lastly, you can obtain a better understanding of Mesopotamian cities through the city of Uruk’s accomplishments as well as their flaws. Overall, The Epic of Gilgamesh can be used as a primary source for a better understanding Mesopotamian cities, politics, and religion. In Uruk, Gilgamesh and the people of Uruk focus a great deal on the Gods and Goddesses for blessings, advice, and help when needed. The people of Uruk depend immensely on the Gods and Goddesses for everything they need and desire. Therefore their religious life revolves solely around them. Due to the constant dependency and need for the Gods and Goddesses in this epic poem, you can infer that Gods were very important in religion in Mesopotamia. Anu, the God of creation was the God responsible for creating Enkidu, Gilgamesh, and the rest of the people of Uruk. He created Enkidu because he heard the people of Uruk’s lament about Gilgamesh and their desperate need for someone to match his strength and power. Anu also created the Bull of Heaven for his daughter, Ishtar, to defeat Gilgamesh for insulting her (87). Mesopotamians believed that God’s had the power the control their destiny, for example in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enlil had decreed the destiny of Gilgamesh and therefore could control his dreams (70). Thirdly, the people of Uruk made sacrifices for the God’s when they were in need of advice or a blessing. For example, Gilgamesh brought two kids to give to Shamash before he asked for his protection against Humbaba and during his...

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...Guide for The Epic of Gilgamesh
from Unit One: Ancient Worlds…
Assignment for excerpts from the Epic of Gilgamesh (text pages 16-33)
Vocabulary:
Immolation- offering or killing made as a sacrifice p.20
Succor – air or relief p.20
Somber – dark; gloomy p. 23
Incantation – chant p. 24
Ecstasy –great joy p.24
Teemed – was full of; swarmed p. 25
Babel – confusion of voices or sounds p. 25
Subsided – settled; lessened; died down p. 27
Questions:
“Prologue” and “The Battle With Humbaba”
1. What hints does the Prologue give about Gilgamesh’s quest?
Gilgamesh will see mysteries, gain a knowledge of the world’s secrets, and go on a long tiring journey.
2. Why does the goddess Aruru create Enkidu? To curb his arrogance, to contend with the king and “absorb some of his energies
3. What is Gilgamesh predicting when he says that immolation and sacrifice are not yet for him? Gilgamesh is predicting he will not die in this battle.
4. What does Gilgamesh want Shamash to do? Gilgamesh wants Shamash to protect him and help him defeat Humbaba.
5. What do Gilgamesh’s calls to Shamash reveal about Gilgamesh’s limitations? Gilgamesh’ powers are limited, even though he is part god.
6. Which god helps Gilgamesh in the battle against Humbaba? Shamash, the sun god
7....

...The Epic of Gilgamesh
For my essay I chose the question, “What does this story teach us about Mesopotamian religion?” A few main points that I will be discussing are: the relationship between humans and gods, why humans pray/praise the gods, and the understanding of why Gilgamesh could not become immortal and why he was afraid of the afterlife. I chose this question because I felt that the god’s had a major impact on Gilgamesh’s life. For example; Shamash, the sun god, giving protection to Gilgamesh and Enkidu, or Ishtar, the goddess of war and love, sends the Bull of Heaven down to Uruk to gore Gilgamesh (even though she does not succeed).
Gilgamesh has many relationships with many different gods. He was created from the goddess Aruru, and his mother and father were both gods also. Gilgamesh himself was 2 parts god and 1 part human, which made him immortal and that will lead into another discussion later on in my paper.
When Ishtar saw Gilgamesh after he defeated Humbaba she grew full of lust, “seeing the beauty of Gilgamesh” (Sandars, 85). When he rejects her, she gets so angry that she sent the Bull of Heaven to destroy Gilgamesh. After killing hundreds of men, Gilgamesh and Enkidu finally defeat the bull. But the point of this is to show the impact a god could have on a human’s life. So I feel that, that is a...

...displayed in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale from ancient Babylon. Its hero, Gilgamesh the king of Uruk, is two-thirds god and one-third man. Throughout the epic, which consists of three stories, the character of Gilgamesh is developed. This is accomplished by changing the vices he possesses at the start of the epic, and replacing them with virtues he receives by its completion. “A virtue is a quality of righteousness, goodness, or moral excellence; any good quality or admirable trait of a character.” (Halsey Collier’s Dictionary 1114) “A vice is an immoral or harmful habit or practice; fault or fall” (Halsey Collier’s Dictionary 1111). Gilgamesh is not the only character in the epic that partakes of vices and/or virtues. Other characters, including Utnapishtim [ the survivor of Great Flood], Ea [the god of water], and Enkidu [the friend of Gilgamesh] exhibit similar character traits. In all four of these characters, their actions are the reason they possess either vices or virtues.
In the opening portion of the epic, Gilgamesh takes a bride from her bridegroom and sleeps with her. One can see from this act the selfishness of Gilgamesh. As king of Uruk, he finds that he has the right to sleep with whomever and whenever he wants. The vice of arrogance...

...Companionship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu
Friendship in the third millennium BC must have been way different then how we see friendship today… Or is it? When you have a friendship with someone, you “fill their gaps” of what they don’t necessarily have. N. K. Sandars demonstrates that “filling of the gaps” in The Epic of Gilgamesh. The friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu benefits them both greatly by making up for each other’s limitations. You see this when they become stronger together to fight Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, when Enkidu rationalizes with Gilgamesh and when Gilgamesh inspires Enkidu to become less of a cowardly man.
When two men fight with each other; there is strength, and with strength comes protection. There are two evident situations in the Epic, when Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight with each other and protect each other. When they conquer Humbaba, Enkidu is the one to protect Gilgamesh as they walk towards the cedar forest: “Let Enkidu lead the way… Let Enkidu protect his friend, and guard his companion…” (75-76). Enkidu knowing how to get to the cedar forest makes up for Gilgamesh’s limitation of NOT knowing the path. Since Gilgamesh is ¾ God, he makes up for some of the strength that Enkidu lacks. “When two go together each will protect himself and shield his companion,” (77) Sandars implies how protection and...

...
GilgameshGilgamesh was the king of Uruk. He made his city beautiful by building high walls, ziggurats, and many orchards. Also, he was portrayed as very beautiful, strong, and wise. Despite everything he had done, many people still did not appreciate or respect Gilgamesh. This was due largely to how Gilgamesh treated women. He would rape any woman who caught his eye, even if it was on her wedding day. The gods heard the prayers of the people and sent down Enkidu to match Gilgamesh’s strength. Gilgamesh and Enkidu became best friends; one could even say soul mates. Enkidu kept Gilgamesh on the right path. Eventually Enkidu would die and leave Gilgamesh alone. The character of Gilgamesh can be analyzed into three main parts: before, during, and after Enkidu.
First, Gilgamesh could have been considered a great king in a few aspects. He created a great city. “One square mile of city, one square mile of gardens, one square mile of clay pits, a half square mile of Ishtar’s dwelling, three and a half square miles is the measure of Uruk!” (Puchner13). Though his many accomplishments, Gilgamesh was a somewhat ruthless king to begin with. He was two-thirds god and one-third man. This probably played a large role in the way he thought. Gilgamesh knew he was very powerful. He knew no one could stop him....

...The Epic of Gilgamesh
Through numerous experiences: his friendship with Enkidu, their dreams and journies together, and his quest for immortality, Gilgamesh changes from a selfish and cruel individual to a wise leader.
Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, was a spoiled and selfish person in character. There was no one who compared to his kingliness and as a result was running around Uruk out of control and unchecked. In efforts to find a balance Aruru created Enkidu out of clay and sent him into the wilderness to ultimately act as a counterbalance for Gilgamesh. There are many similarities between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, they were both endowed with traits gifted to them by the gods, they both had great strength and attributes, and they both were kings or king-like in their own lands. The most important similarity was the way they both cherished their friendship. When the two initially met they were not on good terms, they did not meet with intent to become friends, but did so after Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh to a fight and lost. I think Gilgamesh at this point thinks so highly of himself that he respects Enkidu for trying or even attempting to challenge him. After the brawl, Enkidu recognizes that Gilgamesh is unique in his strength and agility, after they kissed and became friends Gilgamesh changes almost instantly because he has...

...The Epic of Gilgamesh
The story of Gilgamesh was one of the world’s first literary works but most importantly the very first epic. “An epic or heroic poem is a long narrative poem, on a serious subject [that was] written in a grand or elevated style, centered on a larger-than-life hero” (Lynch). Because it was only recited orally for many centuries it was forgotten and vanished until “it was recorded at Sumer in the late third millennium B.C.E” (Fiero 19). The story of Gilgamesh is about an arrogant ruler, who changes because of an immense love and friendship with his companion Enkidu, it is a story about the wisdom he acquires with his journeys, and the inevitability of death.
The story begins with the introduction of the two main characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The love these friends will stumble upon for each other makes both of them change as individuals. From their initial encounter they will discard part of their own lives and give a piece of them to each other. Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk is described as two thirds god and one third human. The Gods bestowed upon him courage, strength and beauty. “In our first view of him, Gilgamesh is the epitome of a bad ruler: arrogant, oppressive and brutal” (Lawall 10). He has no consideration for the people in Uruk he forces labor upon them, kills their sons and rapes their daughters, leaving...

...The Epic Of Gilgamesh
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh undertakes a journey of self-discovery and transformation from a tyrannical leader to a refined, mature and wiser king. The hero of Uruk, who is two-thirds god and one-third man, was introduced as the reigning monarch of Uruk who was a notorious rapist causing hatred and concern within in the kingdom. In the epic, his friendship and adventures undertaken with Enkidu, the death of Enkidu, and his failure to achieve immortality are key factors that led to the development of Gilgamesh's character. By the end of the epic, Gilgamesh, who was initially antagonistically depicted as domineering, transforms into the wiser protagonist who has the courage to accept the notion of death and his fate as a mortal
Throughout their friendship Enkidu manages to divert Gilgamesh from his tyrannical activities and instead teaches Gilgamesh the meaning of companionship. Enkidu was created by the gods to distract Gilgamesh from abusing his power as a king who indulged in his own appetites. Gilgamesh would take all the sons away from their fathers and “leave no virgin to her lover” however through his brotherhood with Enkidu, Gilgamesh learns true friendship. Another example of this can be seen before the fight against the giant Humbaba when he...